The Rumor of the Miracle Clinic

After finding out that In Gyeonghak had been diagnosed with a pituitary adenoma, Gyeongwoo had thoroughly researched the progression of the disease and the potential complications of the surgery.

Among them was the representative sequela: bitemporal hemianopia.

It was a visual field defect that could occur if the optic chiasm was damaged while removing the adenoma.

It was a phenomenon where a portion of the upper outer visual field in both eyes was erased to black.

'That... happened to the Professor?'

Gyeongwoo’s pupils shook as if hit by an earthquake. While he was at a loss for words, wondering how to even ask about it, Professor In Gyeonghak spoke first.

"I’ve developed a bit of a visual field defect."

"......"

"Well, it’ll get better. I’m doing everything I can."

Although he said that, both the professor and his student knew. The optic nerve was part of the central nervous system, and the central nervous system had significantly lower regenerative capacity compared to the peripheral nervous system. The visual field defect wasn’t severe, and it would likely improve during recovery, but it was inevitable that it would affect his ability to see patients in the future.

'He is the best expert, a man who considers healing patients his life's mission...!'

His chest felt heavy.

'Is there no way...?'

Even if he mobilized every treatment method available in both Korean and Western medicine, it would ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be difficult to return to the way things were. Since obtaining the ancient medical text, Gyeongwoo had redefined the limits of Korean medicine, but... that didn't mean it made everything possible.

It was Professor In who comforted his student, who couldn't find the words to speak.

"That’s why I’m saying, you’ll need to help me out once I’m discharged."

"What... should I help you with?"

"I need to establish a new baseline so that even if my vision changes a bit, I won't have any trouble seeing patients."

Gyeongwoo felt a lump in his throat. Even in this situation, the professor wasn't frustrated by his disability; he was only thinking about maximizing his clinical capabilities. On top of that emotion, the weight of his mentor’s trust pressed heavily on his shoulders. The trust that if it were Gyeongwoo, he could rely on him as his standard.

"If it’s something I can do, I’ll do anything."

At that moment, a thought flashed through his mind.

'Wait, what if I register the Professor as my disciple?'

A Korean medicine doctor designated as a disciple ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠would share the mysteries of the Gamshin-tongmaek-rok with Gyeongwoo. Seeing how Gong Chayoung’s acupuncture skills had improved drastically after being registered as a disciple, the performance was certain.

However, he had never considered Professor In Gyeonghak for that role. The professor had always been a mentor to him; he had never perceived him as someone he would teach.

'But in the Professor's current state...'

With the help of Qi-Sense, it would certainly help him overcome his physical limitations. Furthermore, while Professor In Gyeonghak would normally never be in a position to receive guidance from Gyeongwoo, he had now volunteered for Gyeongwoo's guidance out of his own necessity.

'It’s a bit presumptuous, but...'

If it would help the professor’s rehabilitation, Gyeongwoo was willing to register him as a disciple.

'To do that... first.'

Gyeongwoo abruptly handed the shopping bag he had brought to In Gyeonghak.

"What is this?"

"It’s Gongjindan."

"Look at this guy, gifting Gongjindan to a Korean medicine doctor."

"I made it with great care. I’ll keep making it and sending it to you, so please make sure to take it."

There was no medicine better than Gongjindan for nourishing the vital energy damaged after a major illness or surgery. He had to aim for the maximum possible recovery first. Everything else—the abilities and the baseline reinforcement—was a conversation for later.

"Thank you."

Professor In Gyeonghak didn't say anything more and accepted his student’s sincerity. Gyeongwoo didn't drag out the time and stood up.

"Please go back up and rest."

"Yes, you go on."

Gyeongwoo started to leave, then stopped and added,

"Professor, you must not be too discouraged. Your patients are waiting, so just think about recovering and returning. There will be a way."

Seeing a guy who usually wasn't like this rambling on, In Gyeonghak chuckled.

"I’m not discouraged. I’ve spent my whole life healing sick people; do you think I’d think the world is ending just because my own body is sick? Don’t worry."

Gyeongwoo turned away, watching the back of the professor who had left him with those firm words.

'First, the resubmission of the Explorer paper.'

He had to succeed in this quickly to unlock the restrictions on his disciples. Gyeongwoo placed the paper resubmission at the very top of his packed to-do list ahead of the clinic opening.

Meanwhile, back in his hospital room, Professor In opened the Gongjindan box.

'He must be busy preparing for the clinic opening, yet he made this himself...'

With a look moved by his student’s sincerity, Professor In unwrapped one pill and put it in his mouth. His eyes widened.

'Hmm...?'

The potency... it was on a different level from anything he had ever known.

The final week at Gyeongwoo Oriental Clinic.

It was Jia’s final treatment.

"Doctor, I think the acupuncture will hurt, *hieee...*"

"Oh, honestly... The doctor worked so hard to give you acupuncture and make your medicine, and you’ve gotten this much better, how can you say such childish things."

"It’s alright. It’s natural for kids to dislike acupuncture."

"Kids... that’s right. Our Jia is a child, too..."

At those words, Jia’s mother burst into tears. It had been a grueling time. Her daughter, who had been giggling like a freshly bloomed flower bud, had writhed in pain every single day. She had prayed every night. Not for her daughter to get better, but for her to be the one in pain instead. Even though they said the pain was enough to make one wish for death, she felt it would be better for her to suffer than her daughter.

But since there was no such way...

She could only offer empty promises: Let’s hold on a little longer, it will get better, let’s go to school next year for sure.

But then, she met the Director.

"Is something wrong? I heard the child crying."

An outsider who said he lived in Seoul but had come down for a break. He hadn't been able to pass by the sound of Jia screaming in agony and had knocked on their door. That was the beginning.

'Such a... grateful person.'

How could she not know? Why the Director had insisted on opening a clinic in a place where there was no money to be made. Why he was the person who refused even when others begged him to take more reservations, yet he would run all the way to their house the moment Jia was in pain. Why, suddenly, the Goesan-gun Rare and Intractable Disease Project, which had never existed before, was newly established, and Jia was selected as the first recipient.

"Director, thank you. Thank you so much. I... I really don’t know how I can ever repay this gratitude..."

"You’ve already repaid it. I’m even more grateful that Jia has gotten this much better."

Gyeongwoo truly felt that way. If Jia hadn't improved like this, could he have left this village with a light heart, no matter how much Teacher Gong was there?

As of today, Jia had reached complete remission.

The meaning of those words was...

"Jia, you’ll be able to go to school in the new semester."

"Wow! School!"

"So, even if the acupuncture hurts a little, you have to keep getting treated well. Teacher Gong will take good care of you."

"Okay!"

The child jumped up and down with both legs, excited. Her mother and Gyeongwoo watched that scene—something so natural, yet something that hadn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠been natural at all—with aching hearts.

Now, Jia could finally live like a child her own age.

And on the day the final treatment ended, Gyeongwoo’s farewell party was held at the newly built village hall.

"Honestly, what was the need for a new village hall in a tiny village like Yongdeok-ri..."

"It’s not like bigger is always better. Isn't it important to have substance even if it’s small?"

"What substance! Our Baejae-ri is better in substance, too!"

"Even though our village has Gyeongwoo Oriental Clinic?"

"Ahem... well, that’s true, but..."

Village Head Bae Eundong tucked his tail. No matter how bitter he was or how much he felt competitive with Yongdeok-ri’s Village Head Park Chunsik, he was also someone who had received grace from Gyeongwoo Oriental Clinic. After his hearing loss improved, his hwabyeong (anger syndrome) had also calmed down significantly.

'Well... I have to come to Yongdeok-ri often anyway, so I should get along with them, sigh.'

He poured a glass of makgeolli for Park Chunsik.

Gyeongwoo entered the village hall while on a call with the County Governor.

[Director, I heard today is your last day.]

"Yes, that’s correct."

[My wife and kids live in Bundang, so I can just visit where you’re opening your new clinic, but as the Goesan County Governor, it’s a bit of a shame... I can’t bring myself to stop you since you have big dreams to pursue, though.]

"I’ve grown very fond of this place, so I have various plans for the future. We will meet again."

[Haha, I’ll look forward to it!]

Once he hung up, the party began in earnest. The villagers approached Gyeongwoo one by one, wiping away tears and thanking him for everything...

"The new director will take good care of you. Please help him a lot."

Gong Chayoung had finished her military service last week. Jin Seyoung had also been working with them for two weeks, receiving the handover. The combination of a seasoned office manager and a clumsy but skilled rookie director seemed to work surprisingly well.

And...

"Woof! Woof!"

Deokgu also realized there was a party and ran over to claim a spot. Deokgu, having chewed his fill of meat-covered bones, saw Gyeongwoo and ran over to jump.

"Woof!"

Deokgu’s right hip, now completely healed and plump with muscle. Gyeongwoo caught Deokgu, who had launched himself to hang onto him, with an "Oof."

"Director Gong, take good care of him, too."

"Of course. He’s the number one contributor to saving Grandma Geumrye. Ugh, I still get dizzy thinking about that time. I don't know what he was thinking, charging in like that."

"It was for the patient. You can just learn what you don't know. That heart is what’s important."

Gyeongwoo smiled brightly. Gong Chayoung looked up at her senior, who would continue to be a signpost for the path she would walk, with a distant gaze.

'Someday, I too...!'

Pledging to become the best clinician in skill, character, and responsibility... the final night, where the ends and beginnings of two directors intersected, passed by.

And the next day, Gyeongwoo packed his few belongings and left for his new location.

<Gilleo Hair>

A neighborhood hair salon located in a commercial building in Gwanggyo. Although it was a new city, there were always one or two neighborhood salons where customers never stopped coming due to the director’s gift of gab and skill...

The characteristic of such a place was that it also served as a salon for the neighborhood "old-timers" to gather.

"Is Minjeong’s family not coming these days?"

"They aren't, they aren't. After getting scolded big time by Hyunju’s mom back then, I guess their pride was hurt, because they don't even show their faces in this neighborhood anymore."

"But Myeongji’s son, that tall, handsome kid, I heard he got into Seoul National University?"

"The first one went to dental school, didn't he? How do they send their kids to such good universities one after another?"

Director Gil of Gilleo Hair, who skillfully continued the conversation with her customers while never stopping her hands as she rolled hair with rollers.

Jingle-

But then, the salon door opened and two men walked inside. Director Gil brightened.

"Oh my, isn't that President Shin!"

"Hello, Director Gil. Is business going well?"

"It’s going okay. Don't go raising the rent, though."

"Haha, I have to read the market and play it by ear. I came to get a haircut today. The owner here is with me, too."

The real estate agent who had entered with Shin Nakhyun sat down hesitantly.

"I told you I could just go to the barbershop I always go to..."

"Even for men, your impression changes depending on your haircut. The director here is good, so try it once."

"That’s right, that’s right. President Shin really knows his stuff. I’ll take good care of you."

As new customers entered, the old-timers fell silent as if by promise. It wouldn't take long for a men’s haircut anyway. Thinking they would resume their gossip once they left, they flipped through magazines...

But the two men suddenly started a conversation that caught their ears...?

"The oriental clinic on the 3rd floor, the construction is almost finished."

"That’s good. I need to get treated quickly."

"Wait, what kind of treatment are you getting? This is the first time I’ve seen President Shin like this. How good could an oriental clinic be at acupuncture for you to even say you wouldn't take rent..."

'What? He’s not taking rent?'

Director Gil’s ears perked up, and the other ladies exchanged meaningful glances with each other.

"Oh, the director refused, so in the end, I paid the full price, haha."

"That may be, but... be honest. That was a joke, right?"

"No, I was being serious?"

"My goodness, I just can't understand it at all."

"If you don't understand, you should go get treated, President. I bet they’ll say they won't take a commission fee."

"That’s nonsense!"

The two men, who had been sharing strange stories, left after saying they would come again next time once their hair was finished. As soon as they left, the three women started whispering with surprised expressions.

"What was that about?"

"They said they wouldn't take rent because the acupuncture at the oriental clinic was just that good?"

"Which oriental clinic?"

"If it’s an oriental clinic opening soon in President Shin’s building, it sounds like the one with the banner at the intersection in front of the station..."

The eyes of the three women flashed.

"Just how amazing is that place...?"

At that time, Shin Nakhyun, who had left the salon, was taking the real estate agent to a nearby gimbap shop.

"President, I told you to whisper like it’s a secret, barely audible."

"Ah, I told you I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠got it~"